I have a home network with three computers (two desktops connected with
ethernet cables to a Linksys router; laptop is wireless). The wireless signal
is encrypted and I gave my next-door neighbors my network key so they can
wirelessly connect just to check email, do banking, etc. They are not on my
home network, but can they still see where I am surfing (such as my bank site
with passcodes, etc.)?

*

Let me, at least, make one important correction to what you've
described:

If you give someone access to your wireless access point, you have
given them access to your home network.

They're on it.

Now, what they can see depends on a number of things but to be blunt...

Ever wonder why you are getting clipboard notices or why websites like to
put stuff on your computer? Need to know if you can remove updates or fool
keyloggers with Lastpass? Finding blank messages in your drafts folder? All
that and more in this Answercast from Ask Leo!

Why do some sites ask to store information on my
machine?
Sites download information onto your hard drive to create a smooth user
experience. There is a simple action that will solve the whole problem.
Continue reading:
Why do some sites ask to store information on my machine?
http://ask-leo.com/C6369

Can I remove all these updates listed in add/remove
programs?
Removing updates from "Add-Remove Programs" would be a bad idea. You would be
removing updates that your system needs to run smoothly and safely.
Continue reading:
Can I remove all these updates listed in add/remove programs?
http://ask-leo.com/C6370

Will Roboform or Lastpass bypass keyloggers?
A password tool may bypass a few keyloggers - but that's no reason to use it.
You should be thinking of your overall computer and account safety.
Continue reading: Will
Roboform or Lastpass bypass keyloggers?
http://ask-leo.com/C6372

Why might streaming music play only with starts and
stops?
Music that starts and stops while streaming indicates some resource is
overloaded. We'll check for overloads on both the internet and locally on your
computer.
Continue reading:
Why might streaming music play only with starts and stops?
http://ask-leo.com/C6374

I don't believe lastpass is that secure. I use it for firefox and it
supposedly encrypts the password locally and then stores that value on the
server. HOWEVER - I then logged into my lastpass.com account in safari and was
able to see all my passwords. SO they absolutely can decrypt your data on their
server, I used no plugin in Safari. I think its totally possible they could get
hacked, or be compelled to release passwords w/ a court order.

They did NOT decrypt on the server. The encrypted information was downloaded
into Safari, and decrypted there, on your PC. Lastpass remains safe.

I think there is one other noteworthy category, namely sophisticated malware
that is used to spy on organizations and governments and cause major trouble,
such as Stuxnet, Flame and recently Red October. I'm not sure how widespread
they are, but one of the concerns with them is that if that kind of
sophisticated software ends up in the wrong hands, it could perhaps be used to
make malware even more malicious.

Espionage is overrated. :-) That's not to say it doesn't exist, just that
the average computer user is impacted much more by more pedestrian money-making
efforts.

-Leo

*** Thoughts and Comments

I'm back!

Or, rather, I'm in the process of ramping up the engine that is Ask Leo!,
and getting back in the saddle.

Rather then make this newsletter even longer, I have a write-up of my
sabbatical, how it wasn't really a sabbatical and ultimately why the very
future of Ask Leo! was at risk. Yep, I needed to take some time away to assess
my priorities and desires. You'll find it here: Leo's 2013 Sabbatical
Results.

Don't bother reading that if all you want is tech help, news and information
- I won't be offended. This is more about Ask Leo! behind the scenes, and why I
do what I do.

(The TL;DR version: Ask Leo! will continue, the
newsletter stays weekly, quality will hopefully improve and eventually the site
will get better looking.)

As I said, I'm back but ramping things back up, so today's newsletter still
contains a featured article which is a selection from The Best of Ask Leo!, and a new Answercast,
pre-recorded before I left.